Electric switch



G, H. HART.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION msn FEB.24,1921.

w A* 1 ,fw jamggga Tamm@ Lim. T 2 SH'LETS SHEET I.

G. H. HART.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED IEB. 24. I92I.

1,408,999, Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

Y v ZSHEETSSHEETZ.

g-9 1" I i1 l 255 ,5I 'Q y ,9 i O 4 H 9 /0 z o f guna/mio@ @Hf/AHKUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. HART, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application led February exact description.

My1 invention relates to electric switches and as for its object toproduce a new and efiicient electric Snap switch strong and durable inconstruction, of long life and also inexpensive to manufacture. Itfurther has for its object to producean oscillating switch having a bardetent whose position spring of the switch. It further has for its oject to produce a switch having a revolvable bar ydetent and therebyreducing the wearof the detent and of the associated parts andincreasing the life of the switch.

t further has for its object to produce anl improved operatingconnection. It further has for its object to produce a new and improvedtumbler switch in which the lever is mounted upon a bearing integralwith the bridging plate.

One feature of my invention is a revolvable elon ated detent one end ofwhich is held against bodily movement while the other end .is controlledby an actuator so as to restrain and release the switch-arm carrier.This detent bar is preferably cylindrical andl being revolvable aboutits axis receives wear on all parts of its wearing circumference and hasa rolling action with reference to the parts with which it makesengagement. Another feature of my invention consists in having thesupporting frame,

`switch-arm carrier and actuator all U feature vof my invention relatesto tumbler switches and consists. in providing a bearing upon thebridging plate and integral therewith, actin to hold the tumbler leverused for operatmg the switch mechanism. Another feature consists inhousing for the central portion of this lever secured to the-Specication of Letters Patent.

is determined by the action of the driving Patented Mar. 7, 1922. 24,1921.v serial No. 447,395.

bridging plate and extending. through the l face plate of the switch.

The following is a description of an embodiment of my invention,reference being had to the .accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. l shows a side elevation of switch mechanism embodying certainfeatures of my invention in a push-button switch of the two-button type;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the switch through the central planethereof;

Fig. 3 is a section`on the line 3 3, Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a partial section on a medial plane;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the form of supporting member used inconnection with the push-button switch;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the carrier member used in both forms ofswitch, i. e. both the push-button and the tumbler form;

Fig. 7 shows a 'tumbler switch embodying my lnvention, thev view beingtaken on a medial longitudinal plane, the switch -mechanism being thesame as the switch mechanism of Figs. 1 to 4 with the exception of theclosed end of the supporting member;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8--8, Fig. 7

Fig, 9 is a perspective view of the bridging member;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the suppoting frame used in the tumblerswitch, an

Fig. 1l is a perspective view of the actuator used in both forms ofswitch.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 is an insulating base ofporcelain or the like on which is mounted a U shaped supporting frame 2closed at its upper end. The lower ends of the legs of this U shapedportion are provided with shoulders 3 which act to limit the throw ofthe switch-arm carrier in either direction. 4 is a U shaped switch-armcarrier having stop shoulders 5--5 .adapted to be engaged and disengagedat each end of its travel by a cylindrical detent 12 and formed byrecesses 6 adapted to receive the detent. These recessesk are of a depthgreater than half the diameter of said cylindrical detent. 7 is a Ushaped actuating member or actuator having in one leg a concentric arcshaped slot 8 through which one end of an elongated bar detent enters sothat the bodily movement of that end is prevented thereby. The other legof the actuator is Yrovided with a concentric detent holding projection9 and detent retracting cams 9', 9. The projection 9 acts to hold thefree end of the bar detent in engagement with the stop shoulders of thecarrier at certain times, while the cam surfaces 9, 9 act at other timesto partially withdraw thedetent, there being recesses 10--10 on eachside of the projection 9 which prmit the free end of the bar detent tomoved downward out of the path of shoulders 5-5 upon the carrier ashereinafter described.

The carrier 4 and the actuator 7 are mounted u on af'pin 11 which passesthrough the legs o the' Unshaped supporting frame 2 so as to be free tomove thereon.

The detent 12 is an elongated cylindrical bar which extends to the outersides of both members of the U shaped supporting frame 2. Onev 'end ofthis bar is provided with a neck 13, Fig. 3, which fits 1n a recess 14in the frame 2 and is held therein by the upper curved edge of the slot8 in the actuator. The other end of the detent extends through a recess15 to the other leg of the frame 2 where it moves into and out of thepath of the shoulders 5--5 of the carrier, the legs of the carrier beinglocated on the outside of the legs of the U shaped supporting frame. Thedetent in passing through thel legs ofthe support passes beyond theprojection 9 on one of the actuator legs, which legs lie inside the legsof the support.

Surrounding the pivot pin 11 is the driving spring 16 being of theordinary type having two free arms 17 and 18. These free arms embracethe two sides of the closed portions of both the actuator 7 and thecarrier 4 with the result that when the actuator is moved from itspositions of rest the tension of the spring 16 is increased by themovement of the corresponding arm of the spring. During this movementthe projection 9holds the free end of the detent in the path of thecorresponding shoulder 5 until the portion 9 has passed from beneath theend of the detent bar. `At that time one of the cam surfaces 9 on theactuator engages the detent and moves. it so that its axis lies in acircle concentric with the pin 11 andslightly within the shoulders 5, 5.The driving spring 16 then moves the carrier, the detent.

being therebyforced into a recess' 10 which is ready to receive it. Thecarrier then continues to move under the action of the driving springuntil it engages oneof the s top shoulders 3 upon the U shapedsupporting frame whereupon when the actuator is released the detentmoves behind the other shoulder 5. When the actuator is manually movedin the reverse direction the reverse operation takes place.

Inasmuch as the detent 12 is free to revolve on its longitudinal axis itrolls olf the the carrier so as to be insulated therefrom and switchterminals2() are mounted-upon the base in the usual manner to be engagedand disengaged by said switch-arms so as to make or break the circuit.

21 are push-buttons which are connected to the actuating member. Thesepush-buttons are provided with Shanks 22 which in turn are provided withtrunnions adapted to enter holes 24 in the actuating member into whichthey canbesnapped by flexing the actuating member slightly. Thekpushbuttons pass through holes in a bridging member 25 and face plate26 secured to the base 1. A

In a tumbler switch Figs. 7 and 8 the mechanism and supporting frame arethe same except that the closed end of the supporting frame is made indifferent shape as shown in Fig. 10 and a tumbler lever and linkconnection with the actuator are used instead of push-buttons.

The hole 27 (Fig. 10) in the supporting frame for the tumbler switchpermits the play of the inner end of the lever 28 which is connected toa link 29 having a hook end 30 which passes through a hole in the innerend of the lever 28. This link 29 is provided with lateral trunnions atits lower lend which enter holes 31 in their actuating member. This linkcan be snapped into these holes 3l by slightly flexing the legs of theactuating member.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the actuating and carriermembers are adapted to be used with the switch whether it be made upJfor a push-button switch or for a tumbler switch.

The lever 28 is mounted upon a bearing 32 which is integral with thebridging plate 33. The central portion of this lever is sur rounded by aslotted housing 34 secured by rivets to the bridging member 33 andprojecting through a round hole in' the face plate 35. This housingmember thus presents a finished appearance and furthermore guides thelever 28 in its movements.

From the foregoing it can been seen that whenever the actuator 7 ismoved by either the push-button of Fig. 1 orby the tumbler lever of Fig.7 it first puts the driving spring 16 under increased tension holdingthe detent in carrier restraining position until the actuator has nearlycompleted its movement whereupon one of the cam surfaces 9 of theactuator moves the detent slightly so as to the stop shoulder.I Thedriving spring 16 acting through the carrier 4 then forces the bring theaxis of the detent out of line with shoulder 5, presenting a curvedsurface on which the shoulder exerts a cam action. Thereupon the drivingspring 16 throws the carrier 4- with its switch-arm 19 a full throw sothat it is stopped by one of the stop shoulders 3. Upon releasing eitherthe pushbutton or the tumbler lever the actuator 7 .sets back a littleunder the action of the spring 16 so that the cam portion 9 engages lthedetent 12 and moves 1t upward behind the other carrier stop shoulders 5or holds it there so that upon the reverse throw of the actuator thedetent will be behind that stop shoulder and restrain the carrier whilethe spring is being put under tension by such reverse actuator throw.The cam surfaces 9 while they bring about the withdrawal of the detentonly cause a part of its motion, the remainder of the motion beingeffected automatically by the cam action which follows when the axis ofthe detent is once moved out of line with the path of the stop shoulders5.

Theaction' of the switch is very definite and positive. The cylindricaldetent on account of its capacity to revolve has all the advantages of aball detent and furthermore does not exert the side thrustl which ispresent where the ball detent is used, and on account of its rollingaction presents continuously new surfaces of the detent to the engagingportions of the carrier and actuator. The control of the detent does notrequire any spring other than the driving spring y16 of the switch andit is always under positive control.

The parts are simp-le to manufacture, the frame, carrier and actuatorbeing made from stampel metal as well as the link and lever yso thatpractically all the metallic parts of the -switch mechanism can be madeup from stampings or screw machine parts which are eas to manufacture.

gs will be evident to those skilled in the art, my invention permits ofvarious modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or thescope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an electrical switch comprising al support and the other endhaving a cylindrical surface adapted to engage said shoulders andactuator and being free to oscillate under the control of said actuatorand carrier to engage and disengage said' stop shoulders.

2. In an electrical switch comprising a support, a switch-arm carrierhaving stop shoulders and an actuator both movably mounted on saidsupport, ajdetent and a driving spring connecting said carrier andactuator, the improvement which consists in said detent being .anelongated member mounted on said support and rotatable on itslongitudinal axis relatively to said support,

one end of ,said detent being held against4 bodily movement relativelyvto said support andv the other end having a cylindrical surface adaptedto engage said shoulders and actuator and being free to oscillate underthe control of said actuator an'd carrier to enl gage and disengage saidstop shoulders, said carrier having recesses adjacent said .stopshoulders of a depth greater than the radius of the cylindrical surfaceengaging therewith, and said actuator having aprojecting portion holdingsaid detentin` one of said recesses when the partsare in normal positionof rest, and cam surfaces acting .to move said detent partially -,out ofsaid lrecesses when said actuator is fully thrown.

3. In an electrical 'switch comprising a support, a switch-arm 'carrierhaving stop shoulders 'and an actuator both movably mounted on saidsupport, a detent and a driving spring connecting said carrier andactuator, the improvement which consists in said detent being anelongated member' mounted on said sup-port and rotatable on itslongitudinal axis, relatively to said support, oneend of said detentbeing held against bodily movement relatively to said support and theother end having a cylindrical surface adapted to engage Said shouldersand actuator and being free to oscillate under the A control of saidactuator and"ca'rrier to engage and disengage, said stop shoulders, saidsupport having a recessior said fixed end of the d etent, and saidactuator having a curved portion holding said detent in said recess.

4. In an electrical switch comprising a support, a switch-arm carrierhaving stop shoulders and an actuator both movably mounted on saidsupport, a detent and a driving spring connecting said carrier andactuator, the improvement which consists in said detent being anelongated member mounted on said support and rotatable on itslongitudinal axis relatively tosaid support, one end of said detentbeing held against bodily movement relatively to said support and theotherl end having a cylindrical surface adapted to engage said shouldersand actuator and being free to oscillate under the control of saidactuator to enga-ge and disengage said stop shoulders, said supporthaving a recess :for said xed end of the detent, and said actuatorhaving a curved portion holding said detent in said recess and camsurfaces acting to withdraw it partly from said recess, said supporthaving another recess for the free end of said detent, said actuatormoving said detent in one direction and holding it while the tension ofsaid sp-ring is being increased land said carrier member moving it inthe other direction under the action of its driving spring whenreleasedand partly withdrawn by said actuator,

5. In an electrical switch, a support,'a carrier and an actuator allrelatively movable and of U shape, agdriving spring connecting saidcarrier andA actuator, an elongated detent, a recess in one leg of thesupport receiving one end of said detent, means on one leg of theactuator holding said end in said recesses, a recess in the other leg ofsaid support guiding the other `end of said detent and means on theother leg of said actuator controlling the position of the detent end insaid second recess.

6. In an electrical switch, a support, a carrier and an actuator allrelatively movable and of U shape, a driving spring oonnecting saidcarrier and actuator, an elongated detent, a recess in one leg of thesupport receiving one end of said detent, means on one leg of theactuator holdjgig said end in said recesses, a recess inthe other leg ofsaid support guiding the other end of said detent and means on the otherleg of said -actuator controlling the position of the detent end in saidsecond recess, said detent being revolvable on its axis and having itscarrier and actuator engagin surface cylindrical.

I. In an electrical'switch, a support, a carrier and an actuator allrelatively movable and of U shape, a driving spring connecting saidcarrier and actuator, an elongated detent, a recess in one leg of thesupport receiving one end of said detent, means on one leg of theactuator holding said end in said recesses, a recess in the other leg ofsaid support guiding the other end of said detent and means on the otherleg of said actuator controlling the position of the detent end in saidsecond recess, said detent being revolvable on its axis and having itscarrier and actuator engaging surface cylindrical, said carrier memberhaving stop recesses whose depth is greater than half the diameter ofsaid cylindrical surface, and said actuatoi` holding said cylindricalportion` in said recess while the spring is being put under tension andthen partially withdrawing the same.

8. In an electrical switch, a support, a earrier and an actuator allrelatively movable and of U shape, a driving spring connecting saidcarrier and actuator, an elongated detent, the legs of said carrierbeing outside said support and the legs of said actuator being withinboth said support and carrierand having aligning holes, and an operatingconnection having trunnions entering sa1d holes and adapted to beinserted and removed'therefrom by flexing the arms of said actuator.

9. In an electric switch having a base, an oscillating switch-armcarrier, an oscillating actuator and a driving spring connecting saidcarrier and actuator, a metallic bridging member 4secured to said base,a bearing integral with said bridging member, a lever on said bearing,and a link between said lever and said actuator lthrough which saidleverY operates said actuator.

10. In an electric switch having a base, an oscillating switch-armcarrier, an oscillating actuator and a driving spring connecting saidcarrier and actuator, a metallic bridging member secured to said base, abearing integral with said bridging member, a lever on said bearing, alink between said lever and said actuator through which said leveroperates said actuator, a slotted housing secured to said bridgingmember and surrounding and guiding the central portion of said lever,and a face plate having an opening through which said housing protrudes.

' GEORGE H. HART.

